John thompson



(No Model.)

' J. THOMPSON.

FRICTION CLUTCH. No. 316,200. Patented Apr.21, 18 85.

UNirn Srsirns JOHN THOMPSON, OF BUOYRUS, OHIO, ASSIGNOR TO THE BUOYRUSFOUNDRY AND MANUFACTURING COMPANY, OF SAME PLACE.

FRICTION-CLUTCH.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 316,200, dated April21, 1885.

Application filed September 24, 1884. (No model.)

exact description thereof, reference being had to the accompanyingdrawings, making a part of this specification, in which Figure 1represents the side elevation of a friction clutch with my improvementsattached. Fig. 2 is a horizontal section through the hollow shaft andclutch-head. Fig. 3 is an end view of the friction device.

The object of my invention is to secure a device for hoisting andswinging purposesat once simple in its construction and efficient in itsworking. That class of hoisting and swinging appliances in which thewheel or belt runs loose on the shaft and the hub is necessarily shortis open to the fatal objection that in a short time it develops a largeamount of lost motion, and where gearing is used it soon begins tooscillate onthe shaft and does not present a true surface at thepitch-line. In my device the gear-wheel is keyed or pressed tight on theshaft, and the drum or drums run loose on the shaft until theextension-jaws come in contact with the friction-surface, when itrotates with the shaft. The segments are held in position by theturn-buckles and by guides formed by the castings, while thebearing-surfaces are on the outside ends. These segments, with thesupporting-castings, are secured fast to the shaft. By this arrangementthe turnbuckles are rendered more easy of access for adjustment.

Referring to the drawings, the clutch mechanism is arranged on the shaftwithspur-wheel and drum to perform the act of hoisting. I have notconsidered it necessary to illustrate the arrangement of drums, &c., forswinging, but will describe that operation farther on.

The clutch mechanism for operating the drum so as to perform the act ofhoisting is carried out as follows: A pinion on the driving-shaft, (notshown,) said driving-shaft being operated by the engines in the usualmanner, engages the spur-wheel B on the shaft A, this shaft beingsupported by bracketed bearings, and the said spur-wheel being fastenedtightly on the shaft A. Revolving loosely on shaft A is the drum 0, towhich is firmly bolted the annular addition D, with projecting flange orhousing N. As the shaft A revolves in its bearings it carries with itnot only the spurwheel B, but the casting M, which is attached totheshaft A. The casting M divides from its center into four arms, on m mm, which are provided-on their outer faces with raised ribs terminatingin raised angle-pieces L. These angle-pieces L have ontheir outsidesurfaces guards T-T T T, which hold the friction-shoes E E E E in placeand act with the back of the casting as guides, on which thefriction-shoes E E E E move back and forth. These movable friction-shoesE E E E, which may have on their outside surfaces frictional linings,which linings may prefer. bly be made of vulcanized fiber, are pivotedtothe ends of the turn-buckles F F F F, which are in their turn pivotedto the movable clutch-head G. The movable clutch-head, as shown in Fig.2, has a longitudinal movement on the shaft A, but rotates with it.

The manner of operating the clutch-head is as follows: The shaft A isbored out to the requisite depth and size, and at the necessary distancefrom the end a slot, 3, is cut from the outside into this hole. A rod,R, is then inserted, which is secured to the clutch-head by a bolt orkey, S, which moves back and forth in the slot cut in the shaft,allowing theclutchhead to move longitudinally Pivoted to the other endof this rod R is a .yoke, H, with a loose collar, h, which is secured toits place on the rod by collars and nuts, which allow the rod to rotatefreely with the shaft A, but prevent its longitudinal motion except asthe yoke is moved by the standard and rocker-arms attached.

The mode of applying the friction is as followsrVhen the rod R is movedforward in the shaft A, the clutch-head G attached is also thrownforward, straightening out the turnbuckles F F F F and forcing thefriction-shoes E E E E, working in the guides O O O O,against the innerperiphery of the rim or housing N. An even bearing on thefriction-surface N being thus obtained, the annular addition D revolveswith the shaft A, carrying with it the drum, to which it is attached.The chain is wound around the drum and the act of hoisting is performed.

To reverse the process, the rod R and the clutch-head G are moved backin the shaft, the pressure of the friction-shoes E E E E on thefriction'surface N is relieved, and the drum 0 and addition D revolveloose on the shaft, as before.

It is evident that the annular addition D may be either bolted onto thedrum or be cast solid with it.

The act of hoisting having been illustrated and explained, it will beseen that the matter of swinging is simply a question of arrangement ofdrums, shafting, 8150., and that my frictionclutch is attached to theswinging drums in substantially the same way as to the hoisting-drum andoperates in the same manner.

To perform the act of swinging, I attach a spur-wheel tightly to theshaft, (said shaft being operated from the engines in the usual manner,)and on this shaft place two drums revolving loosely. Each of these drumsis provided with my friction-clutch, as before described, and has aplace on its outer periphery for a friction-belt, if desired. Bythrowing in the friction-clutch on one or the other of these drums thechain or rope is wound around the drum and the act of swinging isperformed. It is evident that as the chain or rope is being wound aroundone drum the other is releasing its chain or rope. It can readily beseen that though I have here specified my invention as applicable tohoisting and swinging purposes, it can be and is intended to be usedwherever a chain or rope is wound around a drum by machinery for anypurpose Whatever.

Having thus described myinvention, what I claim as new, and desire tosecure by Letters Patent, is

1. An improvement in devices for winding purposes, consisting ofspur-wheel B, secured to shaft A, and drum 0, running loose upon saidshaft and provided with addition D, in combination with the casting M,provided with arms m, angle-pieces L, guides T, and shoes E, workingbetween the guides, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

2. The drum 0, having the addition D, pro vided with the housing N, incombination with the shoes E, castings M, provided with the arms m, andangle-pieces L, formed therewith, turnbuckles F, and the clutch-head G,substantially as and for the purpose herein specified.

3. The drum 0, having the addition D, provided with the housing N, incombination with the shoes E, castings M, provided with the arms m, andthe angle-pieces L, turn-buckles F, clutch-head G, slotted shaft A, andsuitable mechanism for operating the same, substantially as hereindescribed, and for the purpose set forth.

4. The casting M, provided with thearms m, and angle-pieces L, incombination with the guides T, turn-buckles F, and clutch-head G, allconstructed to operate substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

JOHN THOMPSON.

Witnesses:

WV. B. CRITTENDEN, J AOOB SOROGGS.

